Holder for electroplating.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1'908.

W. Y.- BUCK. HOLDER POR ELEGTROPLATING.

APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.25,1907.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM Y. BUCK, OF MUNCIE,` INDIANA.

HOLDER. For. ELECTROPLATING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented May 2'6, 1908.

Application filed September 25, 1907. Serial No. 394,494.

This invention relates in general to thatv method of electroplatingwhich consists in' holding between two anodes in an electrolytic bathseparate pieces of work, `facing toward and near each other, and inpassing ourrent from the anodes through the plating solution to thework, while held inthat position; 'and' relates in particular toapparatus which is used in electro lating by that method for the purposeo4 holding, inthe plating solution, spoons, forks and other articles offiat ware, which are to be plated. un. equally upon opposite sides. f

, It is the object of the invention to facilitate the placing of sucharticles in their appropriate positions in such a holder; to hold thosearticles in their proper attitudes invariably, and without -d anger ofturning or facing labout to promote an automatic return of the same totheir predetermined positions,

whenever slightly displaced by accident; to

prevent markings upon the work, where it touches the holder; to diminishelectrodepoi sition upon the holder, and at the same time to increasethe inequality of deposit upon opposite sides of the work. `Toaccomplish these objects I incorporate 'in ythe holder an indeiinitenumber ofconnected and partly insulated wire loops, which'are of apeculiar pattern, and are peculiarly positioned. In the accompanyingdrawin s, Fi ure 1 is .an end elevation ofmy improve hol er, with,spoons therein, all in workingposition in an c ectro lating vat. Fig. 2is a pers ective view o the upper portion of the same older.

. Fig. 3 is a horlzontalse'ction .on line .of

Fig. 2. Fig.- ll-is a vertical section on the line y-'-y of Fig. 2. t

In these drawin s, a single loop, for asingle piece vof work, is`denoted by the numeral 1..

` lts-shown in Fig. 3, this loop consists .of two ar 'and curvilinearposite side 3 and the ends 4` are formed by wires, y2 and-3, whichformits boundary, andv are twisted. together at each end of the loop toform its terminal connections. Being aproximately flat, it has the formofan irreguvarallelogram, whereof one side 2 is formed y wire 2, whilethe opshown tipped o wire 3. Side 2 curves symmetrically a littleoutward near the middle, and side 3 a little inward, so that the openingbetween them, as seen from above, conforms rudely with the shape of thework, which is seen in cross-section in the same, Fig. 3. The ends ofthe loop are rounded out Yin the middle, so that the opening betweenthem is longest between the points which are indicated by the numerals4. Wire Sis preferably of steel, while wire 2 is either madeofn'onconductive material or thoroughly insulated' with a covering of thatcharacter.. Wire 3 yis similarly' msulated. 1n those portions only whichform no part ofthe loo s. i

xcepting the loops and 'wires 1, 2 and 3, the .frame of the holderconsists'of a (pair of vertical side bars 6,v which are unite by anarched handle 5, and are provided, atv ldifferent levels, with. pairs ofhorizontal'and parallel cross-bars 7, all formed of coarse andelectrically conductive wire, preferably` of steel. In the side barsl ofthis frame 'are formed two hooks, or bends, 8, by which'the device maybe suspended in the usual manner. At these points of support, the frameis provided with copy er contact ieces, which f I are applied to the amein the orm of closeiitting sleeves, before bends 8 .are formed'. Belowthese points of support, the side bars 6 and the cross-bars Y areinsulated with a coat# ing of vulcanized rubber, porcelain, or othernoncoriductive material, which will protect the coatedsurfaces from alldeposit, and will receive no deposit upon itself.

` The cross-bars 7 of each pair are connected by two parallelandduplicate chains of loops 1, the latter being formed of wires 2' `andy 3as described, and being connected with each other by intermediateportions 9 f thesame wires, twisted together, as shown in Fig. 2. Theends of these chains are soldered -to the ends of cross-bars 7 the loops1 being laced in inclined positions, as s own in where the front1tportion of the loops is plainly liquely downward. In Fig. 1 thenumerals 10 denote the side walls of a vat, containing a platin solution11, inwhich the work 1s sus en ed. The anod-'es 12, being plates of siver or other -metal, are submer ed` in the solution at a little distancefrom t e work, on o posite sides )of the holder, being supported yhooks' 13, Awhich are in electrical contact with a co per strap 14,representing the positive pole o the current generator.

In the operation of my invention, the work, which is represented byspoons 15, is placed in position in the holder in the following manner:Thehandles 16 of the spoons are first inserted from above in the severalloo s 1, and are `permitted to descend therein till sto pedbycontactofthe s oon bowls 17 wit the end wires 4 of those oo s; then, beingaided or. propelled by gravitation, and being guided by t 'e bulging andsloping ends 4 of the loo s, the spoons 15, either lautomatically, oraided1 by alittle shaking of the apparatus by hand, settle down into thepre'- cise position which is indicated in the drawings. In that positionthey seek to remain, and to that position they' tend to return in thesame manner, as often as they are disturbed. Resting or swinging inVthat position, they are severally supportedin their respective loops byedge contacts only, as shown in F ig. 3, and hence receive no wire markswhile being plated'.

In each loop 1, the back wire 4, being bent outward, leaves ample roomfor the accommodation of bowl 17, as it swings in the motion of the vat;and, being insulated, leaves the solution wholly unimpoverished, whereit comes in contact with the back ofthe work;

` at the same time, the front of the loo being bent inward as described,prevents t e work from turning or facing about; and theloop ends 4,being divergent, curved and sloping, as described, not only throw thework forward into theposition indicated in the drawings, but alsoprevent the same from catching and binding in the corners of the 1005s,Where the wires 3 and 4 come together. n the same holder, the deposit,being limited to a portion of each loop, is practically equal only tothe insignificant deposit laid on the Work 4during'the loading andunloading of the vat', and hence may be entirely disregarded; so thatthe weight of metal deposited on the Work, may be determined at any timefrom the weight of the holder and work together, as observed before andafter exposure in the plating solution.

I claim as my invention` 1. In a holder for electroplating, a pair ofinsulated conductive bars, which are provided with al connecting handleand with suspensory hooks, in combination with a pair of insulated,parallel and normally horizontal cross-bars, which are rigidly andconductively united with said conductive bars respectively, and a numberof work-engaging loops, which are formed by and between two wires,namely: an insulated or non-conductive back wire, bent outward from themiddle of each loop, and an exposed conductive front Wire, bent inwardatthe front of each loo and bent divergently outward at` the en s ofeach loop, said wlres being twisted together between said loops, 'andsaid loops being arranged in duplicate, parallel and inclined chains,connecting said crossbars.

2. In a holder for electroplating, a pair of insulated side bars, whichare united by a handle, and are pr'ovided with conductive hooks, incombination vwith two conductive and insulated crossbars, which aresepa.

rately united with said side bars respectively, and work-engaging loops,which are severally formed by and between two wires, viz.: an insulatedor non-conductive back wire, bent outward from the middle of each loop,and an exposed conductive front wire, bent inward at the front of eachloop, and bent outward at the ends of each loop, said loops beingconnected by said wires, twisted together, and being arranged induplicate chains, connecting said cross-bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

' WILLIAM Y. BUCK. Witnesses:

LAURANGE MILLER, LN. BUsKINs.

